Students spend hours a day in the intense and stressful school atmosphere with no break. This long period of time can be quite overwhelming and being able to take a break by leaving school during lunch would be a positive change.

Various schools across the county have open lunches, including Churchill. “Open lunches give us freedom, which we need throughout the long day of work,” Churchill freshman Cayman Hubbarth said.

During open lunch at Churchill, freshmen and sophomores are able to walk to nearby restaurants or catch a ride with upperclassmen. “Usually some of my older friends drive me to the Cabin John mall, and we get lunch there and then go back afterwards,” Hubbarth said.

School lunches are not particularly appealing and open lunch would allow for students to go out and make a better meal selection. “The food that people get tastes better than school lunches, and is for the most part, better for you,” Hubbarth said.

Athletes need a healthy lunch to boost their energy for games and practices that occur after school. An open lunch would provide an opportunity for them to purchase what they need in order to get through school and their after-school activities.

The school cafeteria is small and cannot hold all of the students. This leaves students sitting uncomfortably on the floor and in classrooms. “I do not like having to sit on the floor everyday because it is extremely uncomfortable,” sophomore Kevin Friedman said.

Time is not an issue, as lunch is 45 minutes, which is enough to go out for food and be back for sixth period. “I usually have a lot of extra time during lunch, and I become bored sitting around in the hallways,” Friedman said.

Opponents believe that there are no stores or restaurants in reasonable distance from the school. “There is no point in an open lunch because no restaurants are nearby,” freshman Andrew Zhang said.

With the addition of the Chick-Fil-A this school year, which is in driving distance, there are options for students to go out during an open lunch. Juniors and seniors have licenses and are able to drive to places such as Fallsgrove in minutes.

The school also does not allow for deliveries of food from restaurants or companies. With the option of delivery, those who forget their lunch would be able to order an alternative to the unhealthy cafeteria lunches. “I don’t see any problems with food delivery,” Zhang said.

Those with allergies could benefit from open lunches and food delivery. “It would be great to have food delivery. That is one thing I want Wootton to allow for before I graduate,” Friedman said.

9 of 9 editoral board members agree